Favorite Centerfire Handguns

RJM52

Two great yet often overlooked American cartridges, especially if you prefer to journey, gun-wise that is, on the path less traveled. At one time I had several Colts in .38 Super, a S&W Model 57, and a Model 58. Definitely more versatile and adaptable when handloading either cartridge they were always a lot of fun to shoot (also I liked how I could run 9mm. through the .38 Super with just a barrel change and some 9mm. magazines).

Currently I have one .38 Super, a Colt Lightweight Commander, and while older S&W .41 Magnums are a bit out of my comfort zone when it comes to their price, I still keep looking for one to fill that hole in my collection.

a ruger blackhawk single action convertible revolver, 45lc/acp and 357/38/9. built like a brick outhouse. ammo can be scounged anyplace. p.c. everywhere. effective against pretty much any likely predator in north america.

if just one ccw, 38sp, steel, not airweight, 2”, hammered (double/single action) revolver. a 38 snubbie is a time-tested, proven-reliable social worker.

i don’t do combat or law enforcement so semiauto pistols need not apply to work in my world.

Anchorite said:

Guns are like golf clubs. You can’t have just one. There are many, many uses.

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...AND fishing rods.

Revolver - Smith and Wesson Model 10
Semi - CZ-70

Tough question. If I could only keep one, it would be my 4-inch Ruger GP100 in .357 mag. But I also really like my Browning Buckmark Plus (yes, I know: not a centerfire).

For hunting, a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk Hunter in .44 mag. And just for all around fun, a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt.

Colt Trooper MKIII .357 magnum 6 inch barrel.

Kimber Custom II 1911 45ACP.

We like all of the ones we own. Those are just the two favorites. We don't impulse buy and are careful making purchases of things that we will really use.

Rembrandt said:

.....That's like asking which of your kids is your favorite.

That's why I have so many different ones, couldn't make up my mind.

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Are you talking guns or kids?

"I dunno honey, I like him, but...…………………… meh. I think we could do better."

Full sized auto bounces between this Shadow 2, my Dan Wesson 45 Commander Bobtail, and my Sig P220 10mm SAO on a daily basis. But I don't need to flood this thread with pics that I've posted a lot already..
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P938 Legion for small autos. Pay no attention to the ugly little monster next to the Sig.
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Larger revolver win goes to my 686+
Small revolver goes to my SP101.
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By the OP's criteria:

1. Full-Size Revolver
Dan Wesson M15 6" .357 Mag

2. Full-Size Semi-Auto
Colt 1911 (not A1) built for bull's eye in the 40's But my .38 Special 1911A1 is REAL close.

3. Carry Revolver
S&W Model 340SC .357

4. Carry Semi-Auto
In transition from a Kimber Det-1 .45 to a Kimber Pro Aegis II 9mm.

Todd.

94045 said:

Do I notice a slight inclination to the .38 Super and the .41 Mag?

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...yea, stuck in a rut....

S&W 15-3
Ruger Vaquero (pair) .45 Colt
Colt Combat Commander .38 Super
Kahr P9

Big Revolver: Officers Model Special .38 Spec.
“Little” Revolver: Ruger SP101 Target .327FM
Semi-Auto: Series 70 1911 .38 Super
Carry: Home Custom CCO .45 ACP
Pocket Carry: Beretta Pico .380 ACP

FNP-9 semi-auto

S&W mod 10 revolver

Too many choices but usually carry an old beater S&W mod 10 3" with maybe 30% of the bluing left.

1. Full-Size Revolver
Super redhawk 44 w 9.5bbl and Leopold scope. Tames the full house hand loads that I will not shoot through my 629

2. Full-Size Semi-Auto
Delta Elite 10mm

3. Carry Revolver
S&W Model 686 plus 3"

4. Carry Semi-Auto
P2000SK 9mm

Using the OP’s format:

1. Full-sized revolver: Ruger GP100.

2. Full-Sized Auto: 1911.

3. Carry Revolver: Ruger GP100.

4, Carry Auto: G17, typically, due to simplified maintenance, compared to 1911.

I don't like little guns, as they hurt my aging hands, when I shoot them, so, they are not favorites. I tend to dress around full-sized handguns, so “carry” does not normally mean smaller. If a GP100 or G17 is just too big, well, I will down-size to the Ruger SP101.

I actually used a GP100, while on police duty, in a defensive shooting. I shoot a GP100, on paper, more consistently better than any other handgun, whether firing fast or slow. The GP100 is my “comfort gun.” The GP100 is my overall favorite, and my old duty GP100 is the individual favorite.

A 1911 was my first handgun, in the early Eighties. That makes the 1911 special, even though my first one is long gone.

The Glock G17 is so very easy to maintain, and is so easily replaceable, if it comes to that. I made a difficult shot, during intense in-service training, with a “sim” Glock, that gave me great confidence in its shootability, under stress, even if I do not really like my typical square-range group size, compared to how I shoot a 1911 or GP100. It took a very long time, but the G17 evolved to favored status.

I have G19 pistols, too, but the recoil dynamics are different, so I no longer train with them right-handed. They hurt; actual swelling of my thumb and wrist, and lingering pain. Getting old is not easy. The hardest part of a Glock to conceal, for me, is the blocky rear part if the slide, anyway, so I carry, and train with, full-sized G17 pistols.

Nice pictures in this thread. I can’t narrow down specific, favorite handguns but revolvers are my favorite type of gun.

Auto? It starts with 19 and ends with 11.

Which particular brand, model and caliber does vary from day to day.

Revolvers? I don't much shoot revolvers much any more so I don't have a particular favorite, guess I shoot one of my Vaqueros most.

Who chromed that P38?

Sig M11-A1 - when it matters enough to send the very best
Sig P365 - When concealment counts but I still got a lot a boolets
Walther PPS M2 -Because it shoots like a full size gun
S&W 340 PD - It's like having a stick of dynamite go off in your hand. 11.4 ounces, loaded

druryj said:

S&W 340 PD - It's like having a stick of dynamite go off in your hand. 11.4 ounces, loaded

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I remember the first time I loaded mine up with righteous .357s and started lighting them off.

Round one: I actually stopped, unloaded it and checked for damage.... "Sweet baby Hey-sus! That can NOT be the way it was designed to act!!!"

Round two: Yup, I guess I'll just have to get used to it.

Round three: I wonder how long that stinging is gonna last.

Round four: Some day, in my old age, I'll be cursing my younger self for this.

Round five: NOW.... after all these years, I think I understand .38 +P and +P+!

Still have it but I learned about self-abuse and the return/reward/penalty play on this pistol.

Todd.

1. Full-Size Revolver
Ruger flattop .44 Special

2. Full-Size Semi-Auto
Colt 1911 .38 Super

3. Carry Revolver
S&W Model 19-3 .357

4. Carry Semi-Auto
Don't carry one. If I did it would be the above .38 Super.

ApacheCoTodd said:

I remember the first time I loaded mine up with righteous .357s and started lighting them off.

Round one: I actually stopped, unloaded it and checked for damage.... "Sweet baby Hey-sus! That can NOT be the way it was designed to act!!!"

Round two: Yup, I guess I'll just have to get used to it.

Round three: I wonder how long that stinging is gonna last.

Round four: Some day, in my old age, I'll be cursing my younger self for this.

Round five: NOW.... after all these years, I think I understand .38 +P and +P+!

Still have it but I learned about self-abuse and the return/reward/penalty play on this pistol.

Todd.

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Mike Venturino wrote that after firing one he decided the 340 PD was a really good .38 Special.

.38 Special said:

Mike Venturino wrote that after firing one he decided the 340 PD was a really good .38 Special.

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Exactly!
The best CCW-.38 I've ever owned is my 340SC .357.

Todd.

ApacheCoTodd said:

Exactly!
The best CCW-.38 I've ever owned is my 340SC .357.

Todd.

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I put one cylinder's worth of .357 through the 340 PD when they came out. After a bit of thought I decided that if it was ever needed in a defensive situation, I would hand it to the bad guy and make him shoot it.